Citation Nr: 21040364 Decision Date: 07/03/21 Archive Date: 07/03/21 DOCKET NO. 16-26 083 DATE: July 3, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active air service from August 1973 to August 1977. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2014 rating decision issued by the VA Regional Office (RO). In connection with this appeal, the Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in February 2019. A transcript of that hearing has been associated with the claims file. This case was previously before the Board in June 2020, at which time the issue currently on appeal was remanded for additional development. It has now been returned to the Board for further appellate action. The Veteran has contended that his psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to his active service. Specifically, he reported that he witnessed a young Thai national die from an overdose while stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. The Board finds that VA was unable to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor. Furthermore, the record reflects that VA has made reasonable efforts to obtain all relevant service records. Nonetheless, the Veteran was initially diagnosed with PTSD and depression at a VA medical center (VAMC) psychiatric intake evaluation in November 2012. In light of the Veteran's stressor statement and post-service diagnoses; the Board finds that the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). Moreover, the Board notes that the Veteran reported additional service-related traumas at his November 2012 VAMC psychiatric intake evaluation. On remand, the Veteran should also be afforded another opportunity to identify and present evidence associated with these service-related traumas. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact the Veteran and request additional information regarding his service-related traumas of record, including the approximate date of the incident, the name of the individual involved, and any corroborating evidence. 2. Identify and obtain any pertinent, outstanding VA and private treatment records and associate them with the claims file. 3. Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by a psychiatrist or psychologist with sufficient expertise to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The claims file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated studies should be performed. Based on the examination results and the review of the record, the examiner should identify any and all psychiatric disabilities present during the pendency of the claim, or proximate thereto. If a PTSD diagnosis is deemed appropriate, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or better) that PTSD is causally or etiologically related to a claimed in-service stressor. For each diagnosis identified other than PTSD, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or better) that the disability had its onset during the Veteran's active service, or is otherwise causally or etiologically related to his active service. The rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided. 4. Confirm that the VA examination report and all medical opinions provided comport with this remand and undertake any other development determined to be warranted. (Continued on the next page) 5. Then, readjudicate the appeal. If the decision remains adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case and allow the appropriate time for response. Then, return the case to the Board. Kristin Haddock Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Ware, Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.